Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: IslandHunter on October 24, 2022, 10:39:17 AM

Title: Buck Fever is real
Post by: IslandHunter on October 24, 2022, 10:39:17 AM: Just a reminder be patient and don't take a shot you might regret.

I learned this the hard way a few years ago and sadly learned again this past weekend.

The first time I was a new hunter and had a great open shop and opportunity to take my first deer. I was so rushed and felt like if I didn't shoot quick I would lose the opportunity. Everyone knows that leads to a bad shot, and for me losing an injured deer in the thick brush and giving up looking after soaking wet 4 hr grid search.

After that day I was always extra careful to not let that happen again. I told myself, I would rather have the buck of a lifetime walk away with a clear conscience than injure and lose a deer. I remembered that every time I lifted the gun or bow until this past weekend.

This weekend I was hunting a fire arm restricted unit unit with my shot gun, I brought my bow but didn't really feel like using it, plus I am a bit out of practice with the bow so I stuck with the shot gun. Well my dad decided to pick up a tag for the first time in 15+ years and we went out together and tried a 2 man drive of sorts. I had left my shot gun at home and was using his so I gave him the gun and I had my bow. I was having one of those days were I really didn't think I was going to see anything so I was just sitting in my makeshift blind half watching the trail and half on my phone killing time, then all the sudden there is a beautiful buck at 25 yards away. The blood in PUMPING, here is my chance. I get into position and the deer is alert but hasn't seen me yet. I am instantly feeling like he is about to book it out of there any second and let an arrow fly, I didn't go through my mental checklist, I didn't wait for a clear shot (some ferns covering vitals), I didn't do any of the things I told myself I would do every time. Well I hit him high and he bounded off. I instantly knew it was a bad shot. I was still hopeful we would find him. Waited about a hour and a half and went searching, no blood trail, found the broken arrow with about 2" broken off with some blood on it. Grid searched the entire area for 3 - 4 hrs.... Nothing..... I suspect with the minimal penetration I hit the shoulder blade.

It is the absolute worst feeling in the world. The only silver lining is I relearned the lesson of patience. Things will happen, there will be bad shots and lost deer. When that happens, you want to be confident you did everything in your power to reduce the chances.
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: boneaddict on October 24, 2022, 11:03:39 AM: I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m impressed you are willing to share your lesson, so that someone else may learn from it.
Thanks for that.
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: Longfield1 on October 24, 2022, 11:49:54 AM: Bummer, thats tough. Getting a shot ready with a bow takes alot more steps and movement. When i got my deer this year i just kept aiming at where i wanted to hit and just kept pulling slowly into the backwall, before i knew it the shot hit exactly where i wanted at 50 yards and the deer didnt go more than 100 yards. Also i practice drawing and aiming my bow when im just waiting to see if theres a limb in my way or if certain avenues may be restricted cause of comfort. Keep that Positive hunting attitude always. It only takes 1 deer to fill your tag.
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: lokidog on October 24, 2022, 12:23:26 PM: My daughter's boyfriend learned about buck fever here in WI. It is his first time hunting, he's using a crossbow (legal in WI during archery season). He is just in a makeshift ground blind on the edge of a field since the tree stand we hung gets too dark by the time the deer come by. He had a buck at 15-25 yards for a bit but could not hold the scope steady enough to take the shot. I was proud of him for not trying to lob one in.

I may have forgotten to mention that part about deer hunting and to only look at the antlers once to decide if it is a shooter.... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: KFhunter on October 24, 2022, 12:33:56 PM: If you heard a solid "THWACK" and the arrow busted off about 2 inches back from the broadhead, the deer will most likely heal up and survive just fine

been plenty of critters taken with healed over broadheads stuck in bone
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: buckfvr on October 24, 2022, 12:55:24 PM: :dunno: VERY.
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: KFhunter on October 24, 2022, 12:58:40 PM: I guess I'm thinking a really lightweight arrow setup, but we don't know
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: IslandHunter on October 24, 2022, 01:21:24 PM: Quote from: KFhunter on October 24, 2022, 12:58:40 PM
I guess I'm thinking a really lightweight arrow setup, but we don't know

I have my draw set at 70 lbs and I want to say my arrows are 300 grain with a 100 grain broadhead.

Ill admit I don't know a lot about bows, I just got this setup used and the draw weight and length were already set to my liking. I plan on getting a proper tune up and some 400 grain arrows during the winter along with a lot more practice. I practiced a lot before early archery, but haven't shot in the past few weeks which was a mistake.

I am confident it was 100% my bad shot and had little to do with my gear. Would a heavier arrow and draw penetrate further, yeah probably, but it still would have been a bad shot.

I am interested to see if I can catch this guy on cam again. Hopefully he sticks around and I can have another chance at him late season. I would feel much better about this whole situation if I ended up finishing the job.
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: KFhunter on October 24, 2022, 01:25:44 PM: That would be awesome if you had some closure on the ordeal :tup:
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: Janitor123 on October 24, 2022, 08:49:55 PM: Thanks for sharing. In my second year learning to hunt, saw a buck today and passed on the shot (too far away) to try to sneak up closer. I couldn't find it again, but its because I've read stories like yours in this forum that saved me from taking the risky shot.

Sorry you had that happen.
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: mcrawfordaf on October 25, 2022, 07:49:59 AM: Happened to me last night. Walked a field of winter wheat above a draw that had known bedded deer in it. We were expecting to bump them from above but no movement. We decided to walk the draw as shooting light was about up and needed to make a move. Not more than 100 yards down the draw we bump a doe and the target 2X3. He bounds about 150 yards in front of us into the brush and I've got my reticle on him for what feels like 20 minutes. Heart was beating out of my chest. Nothing but showing us his a$$ and miniscule quartering away shot. He finally walked off deeper into the thick stuff and shooting light was up. I thought back to what I've read in these forums and didn't take a poor shot. I'm going over in my mind every way we could've done it differently and kicking myself but I'm glad I didn't take that shot. Going back out tonight to try for him again.
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: Kc_Kracker on October 25, 2022, 08:09:08 AM: yep, i had a doe standing just right next a branch, looked like horns 100%, then she moved her head. excitement and low light can play games. luckily i was waiting to make sure.
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: GWP on October 25, 2022, 09:02:21 AM: That can happen even when you get older with more experience. I have passed on a few shots because of it. Sucks on a big one though! If you are lucky it will stick around until the shakes wear off. Usually not though.
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: jackelope on October 25, 2022, 09:38:26 AM: I missed a cow elk with my muzzleloader a few weeks ago. Got super excited and rushed the shot. Fortunately it was a clean miss. While I was looking for blood to make sure I didn't hit her, she was standing on the gated road I was walking on at 77 yards with another one. I wanted to shoot again, but I didn't because I wasn't sure I missed the first time around and I wasn't sure it was the same elk at that point. I knew there were more than 1 there. Still feel like I made the right decision but dangit...
Man did I get excited. I've never killed an elk, or even seen an elk in the woods that I could shoot and this one surprised the crap out of me.
Title: Re: Buck Fever is real
Post by: dilleytech on October 25, 2022, 11:23:50 AM: Quote from: p_m_clean on October 24, 2022, 01:21:24 PM
Quote from: KFhunter on October 24, 2022, 12:58:40 PM
I guess I'm thinking a really lightweight arrow setup, but we don't know

I have my draw set at 70 lbs and I want to say my arrows are 300 grain with a 100 grain broadhead.

Ill admit I don't know a lot about bows, I just got this setup used and the draw weight and length were already set to my liking. I plan on getting a proper tune up and some 400 grain arrows during the winter along with a lot more practice. I practiced a lot before early archery, but haven't shot in the past few weeks which was a mistake.

I am confident it was 100% my bad shot and had little to do with my gear. Would a heavier arrow and draw penetrate further, yeah probably, but it still would have been a bad shot.

I am interested to see if I can catch this guy on cam again. Hopefully he sticks around and I can have another chance at him late season. I would feel much better about this whole situation if I ended up finishing the job.

You probably mean 300 spine not grain. Expandable or fixed head?